Much to our surprise we have been informed by our financial adviser that my Mere the law firm I have appointed is not on the bank Conveyancing panel. What can I do to check?
The best course of action for you to take is to contact your Mere conveyancer. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to notify you what has happened. Where they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the approved list of lawyers for your bank.
My partner and I are getting closer to an exchange on a flat in Mere and my parents have transferred the ten percent deposit to my solicitor. I am now advised that as the deposit has not come from me my lawyer needs to make a notification to my mortgage company. Apparently, in also acting for the mortgage company he must inform them that the balance of the purchase price is not just from me. I advised the mortgage company about my parents' contribution when I applied for the mortgage, so is it really necessary for this now to be an issue?
The conveyancer is duty bound to check with lender to make sure that they know that the balance of the purchase price is not from your own resources. The solicitor can only reveal this to your bank if you agree, failing which, your lawyer must cease to continue acting.
We note that you have a post code search directory listing solicitors on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I instruct them for our own conveyancing in Mere?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Mere.
I am about to put a bid on a leasehold property in Mere. The estate agents say that it is normal for flats in Mere to have less than 75 years unexpired on the lease. I am expecting a loan with Virgin. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has Seventy One years remaining.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are securing a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 29/6/2025 the requirements read as follows :
Me and my brother have a semi-detached Georgian property in Mere. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Britannia. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You should read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Mere and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also enquire as to the situation with your conveyancing lawyer who completed the work.
How does conveyancing in Mere differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build property in Mere approach us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is ready to move into. This is because new home sellers in Mere tend to buy the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Mere or who has acted in the same development.